IP Library › Granted Patent US 12706578

Granted Patent B2

US 12706578 · App. 18/444,717 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Zone volume control

Inventor: Eduardo Ahumada Apodaca (Santa Barbara, CA)

Assignee: Sonos, Inc.

H03G3/02 G06F3/0482 G06F3/0488 G06F3/165 H04R27/00 H04R2227/005

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12706578
App. No.: 18/444,717
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Example techniques involve controlling playback volumes. An example implementation includes displaying a group volume control of a synchrony group, the group volume control comprising a group volume indicator on a group volume slider and receiving, via the displayed group volume control, input data representing a selection of the group volume control. The implementation also includes displaying, concurrently with the group volume control, a first volume control comprising a first volume indicator on a first volume slider and a second volume control comprising a second volume indicator on a second volume slider. The implementation also includes receiving, via the displayed group volume control, input data representing an input to modify a first volume setting of the synchrony group to a second volume setting and transmitting instructions to cause the synchrony group to modify volume settings according to the second volume setting of the synchrony group.

Claims (60)

1 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

displaying, via a controller interface, a first volume control configured to control the volume of a first playback device, wherein the first volume control comprises a volume indicator on a first volume slider;

displaying, via the controller interface, a second volume control configured to control the volume of a headphone, wherein the second volume control comprises a volume indicator on a second volume slider;

after displaying the first volume control and after reception of an input to form a synchrony group between the first playback device and the headphone, causing the first playback device to form the synchrony group with the headphone and the first playback device to become muted; and

after forming the synchrony group, displaying, via the controller interface, a group volume control configured to control volume of the synchrony group, wherein while the first playback device is muted, the group volume control is configured to indicate and control only the volume of the headphone.

2 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

displaying, via the controller interface, a mute control indicating that the first playback device is muted; and

receiving, via the mute control, an input to unmute the first playback device.

3 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein while the first playback device is muted, the group volume control is configured to indicate and control only the volume of the headphone comprises the group volume control indicates a volume level at a first volume level.

4 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

displaying, via the controller interface, a mute control indicating that the first playback device is muted;

receiving, via the mute control, an input to unmute the first playback device; and

after receiving the input to unmute the first playback device, updating the group volume control from indicating the first volume level to indicating a second volume level.

5 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

after forming the synchrony group, displaying, via the controller interface, a representation of the first playback device and the headphone in the synchrony group and a headphone icon associated with the headphone.

6 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

after forming the synchrony group, displaying concurrently, via the control interface, the group volume control and a headphone icon associated with the headphone.

7 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via the group volume control, an input to modify a volume setting of the synchrony group; and

based on receiving the input to modify the volume setting of the synchrony group from a first level to a second level, transmitting, to the first playback device, a message indicating the volume setting modification.

8 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving a state variable indicating that the first playback device and the headphone are in the synchrony group; and

based on the received state variable, displaying, via the controller interface, an indication that the first playback device and the headphone are in the synchrony group.

9 . A computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

10 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

displaying, via the controller interface, a mute control indicating that the first playback device is muted; and

receiving, via the mute control, an input to unmute the first playback device.

11 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein while the first playback device is muted, the group volume control is configured to indicate and control only the volume of the headphone comprises the group volume control indicates a volume level at a first volume level.

12 . The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

displaying, via the controller interface, a mute control indicating that the first playback device is muted;

receiving, via the mute control, an input to unmute the first playback device; and

after receiving the input to unmute the first playback device, updating the group volume control from indicating the first volume level to indicating a second volume level.

13 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

14 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

after forming the synchrony group, displaying concurrently, via the control interface, the group volume control and a headphone icon associated with the headphone.

15 . The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor of the computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

receiving, via the group volume control, an input to modify a volume setting of the synchrony group; and

16 . A method comprising:

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

displaying, via the controller interface, a mute control indicating that the first playback device is muted; and

receiving, via the mute control, an input to unmute the first playback device.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein while the first playback device is muted, the group volume control is configured to indicate and control only the volume of the headphone comprises the group volume control indicates a volume level at a first volume level.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

displaying, via the controller interface, a mute control indicating that the first playback device is muted;

receiving, via the mute control, an input to unmute the first playback device; and

after receiving the input to unmute the first playback device, updating the group volume control from indicating the first volume level to indicating a second volume level.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising: